Project board game process

ABSTRACT

An example method for modeling a process as a game includes establishing a set of game rules, establishing a game board and analyzing a process by playing the game board in accordance with the established game rules. In one example, a known process chart is designated as the game board. In another example, the game board is established by alternating turns between each of a plurality of players. Each of the plurality of players navigate playing stations of the game board to analyze the process modeled by the game board.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to process improvement, and moreparticularly to a method of modeling a process as a game.

The use of process charts to model processes is known. For example,engineering processes are typically mapped out in process charts toillustrate and document the numerous resources, equipment, and otherrequirements needed to complete a particular project. The process chartincludes a plurality of process stations linked together by a pluralityof flow path arrows to illustrate the flow of a process from a startstation to a finish station. Each process station corresponds to aninstruction or step involved in completion of the process modeled by theprocess chart.

Engineering processes often include inherent cyclic problems whichdecrease the efficiency and reliability of a process. Therefore, largeamounts of resources are often expended to improve existing engineeringprocesses and the process charts that model these engineering processes.For example, many corporations utilize standard work exercises toimprove engineering processes and process charts. Standard workexercises represent the standards and procedures a company uses tosimplify and structure its processes to ensure maximum quality,productivity and repeatability over time. Disadvantageously, documentingthe standard work may be a daunting and time consuming project due tothe massive amounts of information required to be displayed in the formof a process chart. In addition, it may be difficult to identify certaininformation for documenting the standard work.

Educational games which test the knowledge of employees and provide acontinuing education mechanism for professionals in various fields areknown. However, these educational games are often repetitive such thatthey provide little value after the first play. In addition, no knowneducational game for creating and improving standard work exercises isknown.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an educational board game forthe creation and improvement of process charts that is challenging andflexible and that provides an improved manner of analyzing anddocumenting standard work.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An example method for modeling a process as a game includes establishinga set of game rules, establishing a game board and analyzing a processby playing the game board in accordance with the established game rules.In one example, a known process chart is designated as the game board.

In another example, the game board is established by alternating turnsbetween each of a plurality of players. Each alternate turn consists ofadding a playing station to the game board, removing a playing stationfrom the game board or creating an action card associated with each ofthe playing stations of the game board.

Each of the plurality of players alternate turns to navigate the playingstations of the game board. The plurality of players navigate between astart station and a finish station of the game board. An accounting isrequested once a player reaches the finish station to establish awinning player of the game.

The various features and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can bebriefly described as follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example process chart for modeling a process;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example game board for modeling a processaccording to the present invention to illustrate fundamental stations;

FIG. 3 is an example game piece for use with the game board of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a simulated currency for playing the game board of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a set of action cards associated with the game boardof the present invention; and

FIG. 6 illustrates an example method for modeling a process by playing agame according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a process chart 10 for schematically representing aprocess is illustrated. Process charts, such as the process chart 10,may be used to model the steps involved in the completion of virtuallyany activity or situation. Although the present invention is shown anddescribed herein in terms of an engineering process, it should beunderstood that any other process whose steps can be mapped in chartform may be utilized in accordance with the present invention.

The process chart 10 includes a plurality of process stations 12 whichare linked together by a plurality of flow path arrows 14 to define agiven process. Each of the plurality of process stations 12 generallyinclude a set of instructions 13 which inform of the manner the processchart 10 is navigated to achieve a desired result. The flow path arrows14 provide further support for navigating through each process station12. That is, the flow path arrows 14 link each process station 12 andschematically demonstrate the order that each instruction 13 representedby the process stations 12 is to be followed.

A process, such as the process modeled by process chart 10 in FIG. 1,may be created and/or modified as a game, as is further discussed below.“Game” is used throughout the present disclosure in the sense of gametheory. Game theory is the study of decision making in situations wherestrategic interaction occurs between rivals. A person of ordinary skillin the art would be able to apply various game theory definitions toeither create a new process or modify an existing process as a gameaccording to the teachings of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, an example game board 16 for modeling a process,such as an engineering process, is illustrated. The game board 16includes a plurality of playing stations 18. The example game board 16is illustrated as one of trivial complexity. That is, the example gameboard 16 shown in FIG. 2 includes the minimal number of playing stations18 required to play a game according to the present invention. The gameboard 16 must include at least one start station 20, at least oneprocess station 22, at least one review station 24, at least oneconditional station 26, at least one feedback loop 28, at least onejunction point 30, and at least one finish station 32 to be utilized toimprove or create a process according to the present invention. Itshould be understood that the stations 20-32 are the minimal requiredelements for the game board 16. A worker of ordinary skill in the artwould understand that a game board 16 for modeling a complex process mayinclude an infinite number of playing stations 18.

The start station 20 represents the beginning of the process beingmodeled and therefore the beginning of the game board 16. Each processstation 22 represents a position of the game board 16 where an activityis accomplished. For example, a product design activity may beaccomplished at the process station 22. The process station 22 may bepositioned at any location on the game board. That is, there is nopreferred location for positioning each process station 22. Each processstation 22 includes a single input flow path arrow 34 and a singleoutput flow path arrow 36. That is, the arrival at a process station 22and the completion of an activity associated with that process station22 may be accomplished only by a single criterion.

Each review station 24 represents a period within a process in whichjudgment is rendered against a specific criterion. For example, thereview station 24 may require passing a design review. As with theprocess station 22, there is no preferred location or required sequencefor the review station 24 relative to the game board 16. The reviewstation 24 includes a single input flow path arrow 38 and a singleoutput flow path arrow 40 such that each activity associated with eachreview station 24 may be accomplished only by a single criterion.

Each conditional station 26 represents a position on the game board 16where a specific condition must be met to continue along the flow pathto the next sequential playing station 18. For example, the conditionalstation 26 may require the passing of a quality review. If the qualityreview is failed, an alternate flow path is forced. The conditionalstation 26 has at least one input flow path arrow 42 and at least twooutput flow path arrows 44 that provide alternate paths in the case of afailed condition. In addition, there is no preferred location orrequired sequence relative to the game board 16 for the conditionalstation 26, except that a conditional station 26 must be positionedprior to the finish station 32 of the game board 16.

The feedback loop 28 connects the finish station 32 to the junctionpoint 30 of the game board 16. If the game board 16 includes a pluralityof junction points 30, the feedback loop 28 may be used to connect thefinish station 32 to any of the junction points 30 of the game board 16.Additional playing stations 18 may be positioned within the feedbackloop 28 to provide additional playing stations 18 and define the flowpath return to the junction point 30. The junction point 30 has at leasttwo input flow path arrows 50 and 52 and only a single output flow patharrow 54.

Referring to FIG. 3, an example game piece 60 for navigating theplurality of playing stations 18 of the game board 16 is illustrated.The game pieces 60 mark a location of a player on the game board 16. Inone example, the game piece 60 is a plastic model engine. However, anyother coin or marker may be substituted as the game piece 60 of thepresent invention. The game pieces 60 are identifiable by a color ormarking. For example, each player's game piece 60 may include adifferent color.

In addition, the game pieces 60 identify a staff member type and a wagerate. For example, a game piece 60 having a specific color or markingmay identify a contract engineer having a wage rate of $50.00 per hour.A second game piece 60 having another color or marking may signify astaff engineer having a wage rate of $75.00 per hour. A third game piece60 may identify a senior engineer having a wage rate of $100.00 perhour. A fourth game piece 60 may signify a consultant having a wage rateof $150.00 per hour. It should be understood that the game pieces 60 forpracticing the present invention may identify any number of staffmembers and wage rates associated with those staff members.

Referring to FIG. 4, a simulated currency 62 is illustrated. Thesimulated currency 62 preferably includes a plurality of varyingdenominations of currency. For example, the simulated currency 62 mayinclude denominations of $100, $500 and $1,000. It should be understoodthat the simulated currency 62 may include any dollar denomination. Thesimulated currency 62 is used to pay for costs encountered while playingthe game which are associated with the process stations 22, the reviewstations 24 and the conditional stations 26. The simulated currency 62is also used to hire staff members of various types which arerepresented by the game pieces 60 used to navigate the game board 16. Inaddition, the simulated currency 62 is also used to purchase materials,overheads and other expenses that are incurred during the course ofnavigating the game board 16.

Referring to FIG. 5, at least one action card 70 is associated with eachprocess station 22 and review station 24 of the game board 16. In oneexample, each conditional station 26 includes action cards 70. An actioncard 70 is selected from a card deck 61 when a game piece 60 lands onone of the process station 22, the review station 24, or the conditionalstation 26. The action cards 70 include an instruction that must becompleted prior to proceeding to a subsequent playing station 18 of thegame board 16. For example, an action card 70 may require a design studyto be performed on a specific product and require the player to pay aspecific amount of simulated currency 62 to perform the study. There isno required number of action cards 70 associated with each of theplaying stations 18 of the game board 16. After an action card 70 isused, the action card 70 is returned to the bottom of the card deck 61from which it was drawn.

Referring to FIG. 6, and with continuing reference to FIGS. 1 through 5,a method 100 for modeling a process by playing a game is illustrated. Atstep block 102, as set of game rules are established by a plurality ofplayers who wish to participate in a game for modeling a process. Atleast two players are required to play the game according to the presentinvention. The game rules define the manner in which the game will beplayed. In one example, establishing the set of game rules includescreating a set of process goals for either modeling a new process orimproving an existing process. For example, reducing the number of stepsof the process may be established as a process goal. In addition, aninitial amount of simulated currency 62 that each player receives forplaying the game is established. In one example, each player estimatesthe amount of simulated currency 62 they predict will be needed tocomplete the process mapped by the game board 16. In this way, theplayers develop accurate estimating skills, gain insight into theprocess, and improve management practices by playing the game accordingto the present invention.

The set of game rules may also consist of associating the plurality ofgame pieces 60 with both a staff member type and a wage rate associatedwith each staff member type. In another example, the set of game rulesare flexible and may be modified as new situations arise during the playof the game board 16. That is, the rules of play themselves may bealtered by the players. The set of game rules are established by aconsensus of the players. It should be understood that any rule, such asthe number of rounds to be played, the size of the game board 16, andthe order of play, may be established as part of the set of game rules.

Next, at step block 104, the game board 16 for modeling a process as agame is established. At this step, players may proceed in one of twoways.

First, as shown in step block 106, a known process chart may bedesignated as the game board 16. That is, the players select a knownprocess chart for making an existing product, such as a process chartthat models the manufacturing process for building an engine, and agreeto use this process chart for playing the game.

Second, as shown in step block 108, if the players do not wish toutilize a known process chart for the game board 16, the game board 16may be created by the plurality of players. Each of the plurality ofplayers alternate turns to establish the game board 16. At step block110, each of the plurality of players alternates turns to either add aplaying station 18 to the game board 16, remove a playing station 18from the game board 16 or create an action card 70 that is associatedwith each of the playing stations 18 of the game board 16. During aplayer's respective turn, any of the playing stations 18, including butnot limited to the process station 22, the review station 24 or theconditional station 26 may be added to or removed from the game board16. In addition, the players utilize the flow path arrows 44 to connectthe playing station 18 created at step block 110 to surrounding playingstations 18.

Each of the plurality of players may also utilize their respective turnto create a new action card 70. The player writes the action to becompleted and the cost or rate associated with that action on the actioncard 70 and adds it to the set of action cards 70 associated with eachplaying station 18. There is no limit to the number of action cards 70that are associated with each playing station 18; however, each actioncard 70 must be appropriate to the playing station 18. That is, theaction card 70 must be related to the process step which is modeled bythe playing station 18. It will be appreciated by those skilled in theart that step block 110 is essentially a brainstorming system for eithercreating a process or improving an existing process. In this way,significant insight into the process being modeled by the game board 16is gained by each player participating in the game. No accounting ismade at this stage as the object at this point of the game is toestablish the game board 16.

Some players may be tempted to set up traps within the game board 16 sothat other players find it difficult to navigate the playing stations 18of the game board 16. However, the influence on play is felt when theplayer realizes that any trap set must also be navigated by that player.The tendency to establish traps on the game board 16 is therefore offsetby this realization. The ultimate goal is to make the game board asrealistic as possible to truly model a process. In addition, any playerparticipating in the game may remove any playing station 18 or actioncard 70 which is determined to be disagreeable or unfair according to amajority vote.

Next, at step block 112, and regardless of whether an existing processchart is utilized as the game board 16 or a new process chart in createdas the game board 16, the process chart modeled by the game board 16 isplayed according to the game rules established in step block 102. Theprocess chart modeled by the game board 16 is analyzed by alternatingturns between each of the plurality of players to navigate the playingstations 18 of the game board between the start station 20 and thefinish station 32. The navigation of the playing stations 18 isaccomplished by moving a player's game pieces 60. Each move on the gameboard 16 entails a cost of some type to the player who performs themove, which is further discussed below.

In one example, the game board 16 is played as a series of movesalternating between each of the plurality of players. Each playerassumes the role of a chief engineer in charge of the project modeled bythe game board 16. Each of the plurality of players has several of thegame pieces 60 at their disposal which represent that player's staffmembers. Each staff member has a different level of ability andtherefore a different wage rate. In one example, the staff members arehired to perform actions associated with the process modeled by the gameboard 16. As stated above with respect to FIG. 3, each game piece 60 isassociated with one of the staff member types and a wage rate for thatrespective staff member.

After landing on a playing station 18 and drawing the action card 70associated with that playing station 18, the player must allocatemembers of their staff to perform the instructions included on theaction card 70. The staff member's salary must then be paid out fromeach of the player's amount of simulated currency 62. In one example,one of the plurality of players is designated as head of a programoffice and collects the simulated currency 62 as transactions areperformed on the game board 16. In addition, each of the plurality ofplayers may exchange their staff members with other player's staffmembers and may hire out their own staff members for a fixed amount ofsimulated currency 62. In yet another example, a player may obtain aloan of an additional amount of simulated currency 62 from the programoffice. As can be appreciated by those persons of skill in the art, andsince there is a fixed amount of both staff members and simulatedcurrency 62 on the game board 16, an internal economy (i.e. distributionof scarce resources) is automatically imputed onto the players duringplay of the game. Therefore, a player's project management skills areimproved by participating in the game according to the presentinvention.

In some instances, the player may be unable to perform the instructionsincluded on the action card 70 associated with the playing station 18the player presently occupies (i.e. the player has come to an impasse onthe game board 16). For example, the player may have a limited amount ofsimulated currency 62. Therefore, the turn may be utilized to create anew action card 70 with a more beneficial instruction contained thereon.In this way, the player's turn does not cost the player any simulatedcurrency 62 but does cost the player a chance to proceed to the nextplaying station 18 (i.e. each move is considered a symbolic passage oftime).

In addition, the game board 16 may be altered during the course to playby adding or removing playing stations 18. For example, one player maycall a fault in the process logic of the game board 16 during play. Byconsensus, the remaining players could then either agree or disagree toadd or remove a playing station 18 to the game board 16 to improve theprocess associated with the game board 16. By allowing the players tochange the layout of the game board 16 as an integral action during thecourse of the game, the process is improved in a timely and efficientmanner.

Play on the game board 16 proceeds in this manner as each playerattempts to navigate the game board one playing station 18 at a time.The game ends at step block 114 where all of a player's staff membersreach the finish station 32 and the player calls for an accounting. Oncea player calls for an accounting, each of the other players is permittedto finish their round.

The accounting performed at the end of the game represents the manner ofscore keeping and establishes the game winner. The accounting is a sumof three factors: GOOD, FAST and CHEAP. GOOD represents a tally ofaccomplishments less the number of incomplete action items. Theaccomplishments represent the fixed number of playing stations 18 for aparticular process modeled by game board 16. The action items accruethrough acquiring action cards 70 while navigating the playing stations18 of the game board 16. Holding an action card 70 at the end of thegame counts against the player according to the cost listed on theaction card 70.

FAST measures each player's moves as a symbolic passage of unit time.Each time a move is made salaries for staff members must be paid to theprogram office depending upon the number and types of staff members thateach player employs. Time is thus accounted for in the spending of thesimulated currency 62 during navigation of the playing stations 18 ofthe game board 16.

CHEAP represents a tally of the amount of simulated currency 62 a playerhas at the end of game play compared to the amount of simulated currency62 requested by each player at the beginning of game play. The object isto spend the initial amount of funding without the need to borrowadditional amounts during the course of game play. In addition, anysurplus of simulated currency 62 which a player has at the finish of thegame is counted against that player. Consistent with usual corporatepractice, this punishes underspending as well as overspending andrewards accurate budget predictions. In corporate practice,underspenders usually experience budget cuts in subsequent years.

Therefore, the player with the lowest sum of GOOD, FAST and CHEAPfactors wins the game. The player with the lowest sum of these factorsis the player who best estimates the amount of initial simulatedcurrency 62 for navigating the game board 16. The present inventiontherefore provides simple and effective job training to the players ofthe game which improves project estimation and project managementcapabilities. For example, at the end of the game cycle, players maydiscuss the results and possible improvements to the process. Playingthe game according to the present invention also provides an improvedmanner of analyzing and documenting standard work.

The foregoing description shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense. A worker of ordinary skill in the art wouldrecognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of thisinvention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied todetermine the true scope and content of this invention.

1. A method of modeling a process by playing a game, comprising thesteps of: (a) establishing a set of game rules; (b) establishing a gameboard; (c) analyzing a process by playing the game board established insaid step (b) in accordance with the game rules established in said step(a).
 2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step (a)comprises: requesting an initial amount of simulated currency forplaying the game board.
 3. The method as recited in claim 1, whereinsaid step (a) comprises associating each of a plurality of game pieceswith a staff member type and a wage rate.
 4. The method as recited inclaim 1, wherein said step (a) comprises: establishing a set of processgoals for improving the process.
 5. The method as recited in claim 1,wherein said step (b) comprises: designating a known process chart formaking an existing product as the game board.
 6. The method as recitedin claim 1, wherein said step (b) comprises: alternating turns betweeneach of a plurality of players to establish the game board.
 7. Themethod as recited in claim 6, wherein each of the alternating turnscomprises performing at least one of the steps of: adding a playingstation to the game board; removing a playing station from the gameboard; and creating an action card associated with each of the playingstations of the game board.
 8. The method as recited in claim 1, whereinsaid step (c) comprises: alternating turns between each of the pluralityof players to navigate the game board.
 9. The method as recited in claim8, wherein said step of navigating the game board comprises navigatingbetween a start station and a finish station.
 10. The method as recitedin claim 8, wherein said step (c) comprises: selecting at least oneaction card; and performing an instruction associated with the at leastone action card.
 11. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said step(c) comprises at least one of: creating a new action card during theplaying of the game; adding a playing station to the game board duringthe playing of the game; and removing a playing station from the gameboard during the playing of the game.
 12. The method as recited in claim1, further comprising step of: (d) requesting an accounting to establisha winning player of the game.
 13. The method as recited in claim 12,wherein said step (d) further comprises: tallying a sum of at leastthree factors to determine the winning player of the game, wherein theat least three factors include GOOD, FAST and CHEAP.
 14. The method asrecited in claim 1, wherein the process comprises an engineeringprocess.
 15. An educational game for engineers, comprising: a game boardhaving at least one start station, at least one process station; atleast one review station, at least conditional station, at least onefeedback loop, at least one junction point and at least one finishstation; a plurality of game pieces for marking a playing location onsaid game board, wherein said plurality of game pieces represent anemployee type and a wage rate; a simulated currency; and at least oneset of action cards associated with each of said at least one processstation, said at least one review station and said at least oneconditional station.
 16. The educational game as recited in claim 15further comprising a plurality of flow path arrows connecting each ofsaid at least one start station, said at least one process station, saidat least one review station, said at least one conditional station, saidat least one junction point and said at least one finish station todefine a process chart.
 17. The educational game as recited in claim 16,wherein said process chart comprises an engineering process chart. 18.The educational game as recited in claim 15, wherein said at least oneset of action cards includes a plurality of actions cards each having anaction instruction and a cost associated with said action instruction.19. The educational game as recited in claim 15, further comprising ascore keeping system including at least three factors to establish agame winner, a sum of said at least three factors being tallied todetermine said game winner, wherein said at least three factors includeGOOD, FAST and CHEAP.
 20. The educational game as recited in claim 15,wherein said game board is established by alternating turns between eachof a plurality of players.